HomeMy WebLinkAboutGLOBAL VILLAGE ACADEMY - SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - SPA130007 - CORRESPONDENCE - CORRESPONDENCE-NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGTed Shepard
From: Sarah Burnett
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4.59 PM
To: 'joyoppen@comcast.net'
Cc: Ted Shepard; Ward Stanford
Subject: RE: A contact has joined your contact list'This Week in Development Review'
Hi Joy,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns about the Global Village Academy with me this afternoon. I'm copying
Ted Shepard, the City's planner inch a rge of the review of the proposal, and Ward Stanford, from the City's traffic
operations group so that they are aware of your comments. Here is how I've summarized your concerns; please correct
me if I've misstated your thoughts:
- 34 parking spaces seems inadequate, especially with planned future additions, and excess cars will impact the
neighborhood
-Traffic to/from Olander is already heavy; with this proposed charter school, presumably many students will be driven
by their parents, adding even more to the traffic in the area.
- You suggested that the incidence of traffic accidents at Taft Hill/Horsetooth be explored.
- From Primrose, it is very difficult to turn north on Taft Hill during busy traffic times already. Residents requested that
the light (from when the fire station was there) remain functional, but it is only a pedestrian -activated signal now. Your
concern is that it will become even more difficult to exit your street.
- There are no traffic lights on Taft Hill between Horsetooth and Drake, so speeds are high. Sidewalks along Taft may be
inadequate/unsafe.
- Overall, you believe the school is not a good fit for the area.
I hope you will be able to attend the neighborhood meeting so that you can learn more about the proposal.
Best regards,
Sarah
Sarah Burnett
City of Fort Collins
Neighborhood Development Review Liaison
970-224-6076
sburnett@fcgov.com
-----Original Message ----
From: Sarah Burnett
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4:47 PM
To: Sarah Burnett
Subject: A contact has joined your contact list'This Week in Development Review'
A contact has joined your contact list. Their details are listed below.
You can send them an email by hitting "Reply".
Email Address: icyoppen@comcast.net
138
Ted Shepard
From: Stephen Greenwood <stephen.greenwood@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 9:15 PM
To: Ted Shepard; Sarah Burnett
Subject: Global Village Academy Public Charter School proposal
Dear Ted, Sarah,
This evening I received a mailed notice about the proposed Global Village Academy Public Charter School, on
the NW comer of Taft Hill Rd. and Horsetooth. I was happy to see that input from residents is being solicited.
One concern springs immediately to mind, namely, the increased traffic. I perused the websites listed on the
notice, but was unable to find any detailed information on the proposal beyond what is in the mailed notice. Is
there any written proposal that addresses traffic concerns? Perhaps I was simply unable to find it.
I am unsure whether I will be able to attend the meeting on Dec. 9, so I'll take this opportunity to be more
specific. During the "peak hours" in which many commuters drive to and from work and school, simply exiting
or entering the the nearby neighborhoods (Milfred Acres, Silver Oaks, and Rossborough) is already challenging.
Southbound traffic on Taft Hill is particularly impacted because the road width drops from two lanes to one at
Horsetooth. Vehicles have a tough time making left turns onto Taft Hill from Bronson, Primrose, Devonshire,
and Moffett, and I often witness "close calls" during peak hours.
In short, my concern is that our traffic situation is already marginal and will degrade further with the proposed
school if not carefully considered and addressed.
Best Regards,
Stephen Greenwood
3315 Milfred Ln.
Fort Collins, CO
137
Stephen,
Thank you for contacting us about the Global Village Academy proposal, and for sharing your concerns
about traffic impacts. Regarding your question about traffic: As a part of the City's review of the project,
the applicant is being asked to prepare a traffic study that City staff can review to evaluate traffic
impacts on the area. Staff comments regarding traffic in the preliminary design review included this:
Traffic operations requests a memo and a circulation site plan discussing how drop-off and pick-up traffic
will be accommodated and clrculated to and from the public roadways. The memo/plan should include
where parents/buses will be allowed to park while loading/unloading children, how the circulation will be
controlled, what times of day the operations will be conducted, contention plans if loading/unloading traffic
queues backs into the adjacent arterial roadways or begins to block safe movement on Bronson or Auntie
Stone, expected quantity of circulating traffic by time of day, etc. A good discussion of the traffic handling
plans for the site.
In addition, I am attaching the site plans that were submitted to the City for a preliminary design review
of the proposal. These may have evolved since they were submitted in October— the developer may
have updated plans to share at the neighborhood meeting on Dec 9. If you are able to attend, more of
your questions may be addressed as well.
Best regards,
Sarah
City of Fort Collins
Neighborhood Development Review Liaison
970-224-6076
sburneu(&fcfov.com
From: Stephen Greenwood[mailto:steohen.oreenwood(5)gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 9:15 PM
To: Ted Shepard; Sarah Burnett
Subject: Global Village Academy Public Charter School proposal
Dear Ted, Sarah,
This evening I received a mailed notice about the proposed Global Village Academy Public
Charter School, on the NW corner of Taft Hill Rd. and Horsetooth. I was happy to see that input
from residents is being solicited. One concern springs immediately to mind, namely, the
increased traffic. I perused the websites listed on the notice, but was unable to find any detailed
information on the proposal beyond what is in the mailed notice. Is there any written proposal
that addresses traffic concerns? Perhaps I was simply unable to find it.
I am unsure whether I will be able to attend the meeting on Dec. 9, so I'll take this opportunity to
be more specific. During the "peak hours" in which many commuters drive to and from work and
school, simply exiting or entering the the nearby neighborhoods (Milfred Acres, Silver Oaks, and
Rossborough) is already challenging. Southbound traffic on Taft Hill is particularly impacted
because the road width drops from two lanes to one at Horsetooth. Vehicles have a tough time
making left turns onto Taft Hill from Bronson, Primrose, Devonshire, and Moffett, and I often
witness "close calls" during peak hours.
In short, my concern is that our traffic situation is already marginal and will degrade further with
the proposed school if not carefully considered and addressed.
Best Regards,
Stephen Greenwood
3315 Milfred Ln.
Fort Collins, CO
136
Ted Shepard
From: JAMES C LEWIS Owner <jim46862@q.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:46 AM
To: Ted Shepard
Subject: Charter School location
Ted: Although we will be unable to attend the information meeting we do support the development proposal for
Global Village Academy Public Charter School. James and Marian Lewis.
135
Ted Shepard
From: Steven Wilkin
Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2013 5:02 PM
To: Ted Shepard
Subject: Global Village Academy Public Charter School
Hi Ted,
I will not be able to attend the Citizen Review for development proposal for the Global Village Academy Public Charter
School. But, wanted to suggest a change to the intersection of Taft Hill and Bronson which is located at the Northeast
corner of the project. This has been a very dangerous intersection for sometime. I live at Bronson and Auntie Stone and
for the last year avoid that intersection. I first hand have seen too many close calls. Once I nearly got hit myself and I'm a
professional driver and driver trainer. The problem is drivers on Bronson try either to cross Taft Hill, or make a left onto
Taft Hill, and because of the double lane traffic on Taft Hill, you can't always see traffic in both lanes. It is also close to
the Taft Hill and Horsetooth intersection and it is hard to get enogh seperation between cars. After sitting at this
intersection for a while, drivers start to take huge risks to get across. This is at its worst when parents are dropping off or
picking up students at Orlander Elementry. Just observe between 8:30 to 9:00 am or 3:30 to 4:00 pm and you can
quickly see the problem.
I propose that this intersection be changed to what is currently at Harmony and Westbury (see photo below). This type
of intersection prevents traffic from crossing over or turning left from the side street. Below are the turns that would be
available with this type of intersection Taft Hill and Bronson.
Eastbound on Bronson Right -Turn Only to Taft Hill Southbound
Westbound on Bronson Right -Turn Only to Taft Hill Northbound
Northbound Taft Hill Right or Left Turn onto Bronson
Southbound Taft Hill Right or Left Turn onto Bronson
Personally, I have not real issues with the proposed school. But, if this intersection is not changed as part of the project. I
would strongly ask that it not be approved. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Thank you,
134
Ted Shepard
From: Albinana, Irma <Albinanal@prpa.org>
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 10:00 AM
To: Ted Shepard
Subject: Global Village Academy public Charter School
Hi Ted,
I am writing about the Global Village Academy public Charter School,
I have a huge concern because of the traffic already in that area.
I will say almost daily you find accidents on Taft Hill Rd, between Horsetooth Rd and Devonshire,
some of them very severe, with multiple ambulances, fire trucks and police cars running with sirens.
I live on Cockney St, and I hear the emergency vehicles going to that intersection daily, responding to accidents.
I am against it. I think a better location, away from that intersection is better.
IRMA ALBINANA
Laboratory Technician
Platte River Power Authority
albinanai@prpa.org
(970)229-1723
133
Ted Shepard
From: Thompson, Geri <Geri.Thompson@uchealth.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 7:09 PM
To: Ted Shepard
Subject: Global Village Academy
I will be unable to attend the neighborhood meeting regarding the Global Village Academy on Taft/Horsetooth. I live on
Bronson St (East side of Taft). My only concern is that there needs to be a light or a cross walk light at Bronson and
Taft. Even without this school, it can be very precarious getting across Taft Hill at Bronson to get to Olander. The only
light to cross is Taft/Horsetooth unless they go further north. So if they want to add another school I would suggest they
add the light at this intersection for the safety of the students.
Geri Thompson
Patient Access Team Leader/Poudre Valley Hospital
University of Colorado Health
970-495-7251
Geri.ThompsonAUCHealth.org
132
Ted Shepard
From: Joy Oppenheimer <joyoppen @comcast. net>
Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2013 10:35 AM
To: Sarah Burnett
Cc: Ted Shepard; Ward Stanford
Subject: RE: A contact has joined your contact list 'This Week in Development Review'
We were unable to attend the meeting last week but hope that our concerns were shared. The more I look at that plot
of vacant land, the less I think that it is suited for a two-story school. And the traffic on Taft Hill Road was backed up past
Primrose Drive the other day (from Horsetooth on the south).
Thank you for your interaction.
Happy Holidays!
Joyce Oppenheimer
-----Original Message -----
From: Sarah Burnett [mailto:SBurnett()fceov.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4:59 PM
To: 'joyoppen @comcast.net'
Cc: Ted Shepard; Ward Stanford
Subject: RE: A contact has joined your contact list 'This Week in Development Review'
Hi Joy,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns about the Global Village Academy with me this afternoon. I'm copying
Ted Shepard, the City's planner in charge of the review of the proposal, and Ward Stanford, from the City's traffic
operations group so that they are aware of your comments. Here is how I've summarized your concerns; please correct
me if I've misstated your thoughts:
- 34 parking spaces seems inadequate, especially with planned future additions, and excess cars will impact the
neighborhood
- Traffic to/from Olander is already heavy; with this proposed charter school, presumably many students will be driven
by their parents, adding even more to the traffic in the area.
- You suggested that the incidence of traffic accidents at Taft Hill/Horsetooth be explored.
- From Primrose, it is very difficult to turn north on Taft Hill during busy traffic times already. Residents requested that
the light (from when the fire station was there) remain functional, but it is only a pedestrian -activated signal now. Your
concern is that it will become even more difficult to exit your street.
-There are no traffic lights on Taft Hill between Horsetooth and Drake, so speeds are high. Sidewalks along Taft may be
inadequate/unsafe.
- Overall, you believe the school is not a good fit for the area.
I hope you will be able to attend the neighborhood meeting so that you can learn more about the proposal.
Best regards,
Sarah
Sarah Burnett
City of Fort Collins
Neighborhood Development Review Liaison
131
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Ted Shepard
From: Bill and Carol EVANS <bcreevans@msn.com>
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 10:08 PM
To: Ted Shepard; Sarah Burnett
Cc: Bill and Carol EVANS
Subject: Comments on Global Village Academy project
Attachments: Global Village Academy modification request.pdf
Hello Ted and Sarah,
Thank you for being part of the neighborhood meeting that was held last week. We appreciated that you kept
the focus on the purpose of the meeting-- to hear from the neighborhood. We think that the proposed school
use is a better fit for our neighborhood than a convenience store/gas station or other commercial use would
be. That being said, there are still technical issues with this particular site that we hope the applicant will be
able to adequately address.
Of course, traffic is a big concern, with limited access options for our particular neighborhood. Living here, we
can all attest to the existing traffic conditions. Even with them busing students, the likely traffic increase will
be significant during early morning and mid -afternoon. We know this from experience, living near Olander
Elementary. Doubling the traffic during those school start/end times will have a big impact.
We've put together our thoughts and comments by drawing a revised sketch of their site plan with simple
modifications that we think would help mitigate impacts. Please see the attached file for that sketch and
additional comments. Please share this with the gentleman from the Transportation/Traffic Department who
attended the meeting, as well as with the applicant. The representative from GVA stated that they want to be
a good neighbor-- we hope that they will either be required by the city code to make certain improvements or,
if some improvements are more of a "voluntary" nature, that they will still do those in order to mitigate the
impacts that this use will have on our neighborhood (especially for those properties that are adjacent to the
site).
One other thing to request is to please thoroughly review the drainage plan and the proposed detention
ponds with outflow through storm drains to the east side of Taft Hill Road and the drainage ditch on that side
of the road. We know from our own experience in the July 1997 flood that the streets and drainage system in
our neighborhood were thoroughly overwhelmed by the volume of stormwater flowing to the east. This is
something that they may not be aware of. Similarly, there is a note on our sketch that provides information
about the snow and ice conditions that are common on our neighborhood streets in the winter. Snowfall
amounts tend to be much higher here on the west side of town near the foothills. Again, this is something
that the applicant is not likely to be aware of without input from the people who live here.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Carol and Bill Evans
2243 Silver Trails Drive
129